Data from: In-kennel behavior predicts length of stay in shelter dogs ...

• Main Authors: Protopopova, Alexandra, Mehrkam, Lindsay Renee, Boggess, May Meredith, Wynne, Clive David Lawrence
• Format: Dataset
• Language: English
• Published: Dryad 2015
• Subjects: Canis lupus familiaris; Overpopulation; Shelter; Coping; Adoption; Canis lupus
• Online Access: https://dx.doi.org/10.5061/dryad.5n7p9; https://datadryad.org/stash/dataset/doi:10.5061/dryad.5n7p9

Previous empirical evaluations of training programs aimed at improving dog adoption rates assume that dogs exhibiting certain behaviors are more adoptable. However, no systematic data are available to indicate that the spontaneous behavior of shelter dogs has an effect on adopter preference. The aim of the present study was to determine whether any behaviors that dogs exhibit spontaneously in the presence of potential adopters were associated with the dogs' length of stay in the shelter. A sample of 289 dogs was videotaped for 1 min daily throughout their stay at a county shelter. To account for differences in adopter behavior, experimenters varied from solitary passive observers to pairs of interactive observers. Dogs behaved more attentively to active observers. To account for adopter preference for morphology, dogs were divided into “morphologically preferred” and “non-preferred” groups. Morphologically preferred dogs were small, long coated, ratters, herders, and lap dogs. No theoretically significant ... : Protopopova et al. Raw DataThis is the raw data for all dogs across all days. Please contact the main author if any clarifications are required.Protopopova et al. InKennelBxPredictsStay.xlsxProtopopova et al. All CodesAll codes (STATA) used to analyze data. Please contact the first author for any clarifications.Protopopova et al.Codes.zip ...